Miniature rose plant named `Little Carol`

ABSTRACT

The subject of the present disclosure is a new and distinct variety if miniature rose plant, named `Little Carol`, which is characterized by deep pink blooms ranging from near Magenta to near Rose Bengal. Blooms of this rose are usually borne one to a stem with hybrid tea form but on occasion may be produced in sprays of 3 to 5 or more. The bush is vigorous, well-branched and produces moderate to heavy quantity of blooms.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of a hardy,dwarf, bush plant of the miniature class; the variety being primarilycharacterized as deep pink.

The variety is further characterized by:

Long stemmed blooms of hybrid tea-type form, borne usually one to a stembut on occasion in sprays of 3 to 5 or more. The blooms are held veryerect and well above the foliage.

The plant range in height from 18 to 24 inches (45 to 60 cm). The canesare sturdy and erect with moderate branching and medium to heavy foliagecovering. The plant is a moderate to heavy bloomer that does well eitherin the greenhouse or outdoors.

The plant has good growth habits, well-shaped and attractive, bearingnumerous leaflets of average size. I have found this variety to beeasily asexually reproduced from cuttings.

The seed parent was Sonia (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,095), and the pollenparent was Jean Kenneally (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,637). It differs fromits seed parent in the following ways. It is a miniature rose in deeppink, and Sonia is a grandiflora in pink blend. It differs from itspollen parent in the following ways. It produces deep pink flowers, andJean Kenneally produces blooms in apricot blend.

The single color photographic view shows, in plan view, a bouquet of`Little Carol` in various stages of maturity from bud stage to nearlyopen bloom stage.

The descriptive matter which follows pertains to roses grown and colorvalues observed in plants and newly opened blooms in the months of Marchthrough November 1990. The plants were grown outdoors in Chula Vista,Calif., and are believed to be accurate standards for this cultivar insimilar conditions of soil and climate elsewhere.

Referring now specifically to the new and distinct variety of miniaturerose plant named `Little Carol`, the following is a detailed descriptionthereof in outline; all major color plate identifications being byreference to the British Colour Council Horticultural Chart, exceptwhere common terms of color definition are employed.

Type: Hardy, dwarf, bushy, greenhouse or outdoor, exhibition or gardendecorative potted plant.

Class; Miniature.

Variety name: Little Carol.

Flowers borne: Usually one to a stem, but occasionally in sprays of 3 to5 or more on erect stems with foliage well below the blooms.

Quantity of bloom: Moderate to heavy both outdoors or greenhouse grown.

Bud:

Peduncle.--Average length (30 to 50 mm); average diameter and sturdy;ranging from near Scheeles Green (860/3 to 860/1 page 176) withoccasional tinting of bronze.

Hairs.--Extremely small and sparse with a reddish color; located overthe surface of the peduncle and calyx tube.

Calyx.--Color range same as peduncle.

Opening.--Opens well in all weather.

Bloom:

Size when fully open.--Average for a miniature variety (40 to 50 mm).

Petalage.--Very double -- 35 to 40 petals, arranged regularly, plus 5 to10 petaloids.

Form.--Urn-shaped to ovoid as the bloom opens. The petals remainsomewhat cupped with the apex and/or margins reflexed outward, becomingat maturity more loosely cupped.

Petals: Fairly thick with good substance; both the upper and undersurface of all petals have a matte finish.

Shape.--Outer petals are of a broad obovate form. The intermediatepetals are very much like the outer petals only narrower. The innerpetals are a broad lanceolate form; and the petaloids are alsolanceolate with some occasional irregularities.

Color: Newly opened flowers from plants grown outdoors (March throughNovember of 1990). Chula Vista, Calif.:

All petals.--Upper surfaces -- Ranging from near Magenta (27/1 to 27page 27) to near Rose Bengal (25/1 to 25 page 25) with a small base ofnear white. Under Surfaces -- Slightly lighter tones of upper surfaces.

General color effect.--Newly opened flowers -- Deep pink overall. Threedays open -- Slight fading of the outermost petals only. Three to fivedays open -- Continued fading of outermost petals only.

Flower longevity.--(March through November 1990) Plant in pot 5 to 7days from bud with sepals reflexed to fully open bloom. Holding at fullyopened for 5 to 7 days longer. Cut bloom at living room temperature 10to 14 days or longer.

Reproductive organs:

Stamens.--A generous amount arranged uniformly around the pistil.

Filaments.--Varying in length with shorter filaments more proximal tothe pistil; pale yellow in color with anthers of golden yellow.

Pollen.--Abundant.

Pistil.--Short, spreading and abundant; pale yellow to reddish at thecap.

Ovaries.--All encased in calyx.

Hips.--Some.

Seeds.--3 to 5 more in each hip.

Sepals.--Permanent; spear-shaped; open as the bloom opens, recurvingagainst the peduncle, when the bloom is fully opened. Occasionalfoliaceous appendages attractively supplement sepal terminals; these areof varying lengths.

Foliage:

Leaves.--5 to 7 leaflets on average; medium size for a miniature roseplant.

Leaflets.--Broad ovate-shaped.

Margins.--Very serrated with tinting of bronze, especially noticeable onthe newer foliage.

Color.--Ranging from near Spinach Green (0960/3 to 0960 page 187) tonear Scheeles Green (860/1 to 860 page 175) with occasional bronzing ofthe margins, especially on the newer foliage. Upper surfaces have asemi-glossy finish, and the under surfaces have a matte finish of aslightly lighter shade than the upper surfaces.

Rachis.--Medium strength; upper surface is grooved with very small hairsover the length of it. Under surface has few if any hairs but doescontain 2 to 5 small thorns.

Stipules.--Varying in length from small to medium; average width;tapering auricles angled outward at about 45 degrees.

Growth:

Habit.--Dwarf, at 18 to 24 inches, average to bush; above average for aminiature rose plant.

Rate and character.--Vigorous and well-branched.

Canes.--Medium diameter; sturdy; held erect.

Main stems.--Color range same as foliage.

Thorns.--Averaging less than 5 to 10 per 10 cm on the main stems andbranches. Reddish in color; average size; slender and hooked slightlydownward.

Branches.--Coloration ranges the same as does that of the foliage.

The miniature rose plant and its flowers as herein described may vary inslight detail due to climate, soil and cultural conditions under whichthe variety may be grown; the presnt description being of the variety asgrown in Chula Vista, Calif.

The following is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of miniaturerose plant, named `Little Carol`, of hardy, dwarf, vigorous growth,well-branched and attractive in appearance, substantially as illustratedand described, characterized by its hybrid tea form blooms ranging fromnear Magenta to near Rose Bengal with flowers usually borne one to astem but occasionally in sprays of 3 to b 5 or more.